The University of Saint Francis is expanding its health sciences programs to Lafayette, officials announced Thursday.
The site will house Saint Francis associate applied science degree programs with a medical imaging focus – including sonography and radiologic technology – along with two bachelor’s degree completion programs.
An anonymous donor contributed $3.5 million to Saint Francis for program expansion in Lafayette, where the university was founded in 1890.
In addition, Franciscan Health donated the former Bill Long Medical Building, 1450 Salem St. in Lafayette, to the university. It will be renamed Our Lady of Lourdes Hall.
Lance Richey, Saint Francis president, said the location makes sense for the university.
“Saint Francis is excited about our partnership with Franciscan Health, a sister ministry of our sponsors – the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration – and looks forward to being back in the city where the then-St. Francis College had its start,” Richey said in a statement.
“This is a fitting expansion since we have a 135-year bond with Lafayette in carrying out the mission of our foundresses.”
The Lafayette site also will become a second location for the Leffler Academy, a Saint Francis partner.
The academy, founded in Gas City, specializes in nursing degrees and pre-degree allied health certificates. Leffler Academy programs will begin upon approval by specialty and national accrediting bodies.
Applications are open for students to begin prerequisite online courses this fall for radiologic technology and diagnostic medical sonography. Go online to be.sf.edu/lafayette-site for more information and to view artist renderings of the future Our Lady of Lourdes Hall.
In-person labs and clinicals in Lafayette are scheduled to begin in 2026.
For more information, contact Angie Harrell, dean of the College of Health Sciences, at 260-399-7700, ext. 8309, or email aharrell@sf.edu.
The University of Saint Francis offers more than 60 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs through the College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts, Sciences and Business. Its enrollment is about 1,800.
